The University pledges to do everything in its power—within the limits of its available resources and reasonable accommodations—to enable all students to access academic programmes without discrimination, while maintaining the high requirements that guarantee the value of the degrees it delivers.

Based on their situation, a student may be recognized as a Student with Specific Needs (SSN) and thus benefit from special measures to ensure their access to higher education.

For whom?

Students with disabilities or suffering from disabling diseases, documented deficiencies, or learning disabilities
Missions:
  • Make sure the applicant student is heard, and help them obtain information;
  • Examine the application, analyse the student’s needs in consultation with them, and submit their application to the academic authorities;
  • Develop an individualized support strategy, in consultation with the student;
  • Ensure the individualized support strategy is implemented and reasonable accommodations are made;
  • Provide help and support accessing the University’s infrastructures: car park, housing, libraries, etc.;
  • Recruit teaching support staff, manage administrative records (contracts, payment, etc.), coach, train, and supervise;
  • Provide information and assistance with administrative procedures, and forward student case files to the public entities in charge of integrating people with disabilities;
  • Collaborate with external parties if necessary, in order to offer specific support resources (e.g. interpretation, transcription, etc.);
  • In accordance with the General Study Regulations, examine and assist with the student’s applications for reduced programmes, postponement for legitimate reasons, open sessions of exams, etc.;
  • Take part in information and orientation initiatives for students in the final years of secondary school;
  • Coordinate awareness and information initiatives, as well as training initiatives for people involved in individualized support strategies;
  • Coordinate the actions of ULB staff members and the people involved in individualized support strategies;
  • Conduct ongoing evaluations of individualized support strategies and adapt them to the needs of specific students, if necessary;
  • Put the student in touch with the relevant ULB departments: Medical Centre (general and specialized medicine [at minimum out-of-pocket cost], infirmary, sports medicine, sports physical therapy), PsyCampus, sports facilities, InfOR-Études, and financial aid from the Student Welfare Office 
High-level athlete students

The following initiatives and resources are offered:

  • Year-long individual support and coaching from ULB Sports, based on the student’s needs and requests, in order to facilitate their integration into the University and succeed in their studies.
  • Help with administrative procedures: enrolment, reduction in registration fees, financial aid, etc.;
  • Help with sports activities: contact with coaches, clubs, or federation authorities, physical conditioning, preparation for competitions, evaluation of the goals set, etc.;
  • In accordance with the General Study Regulations, possibility to apply for a programme reduction, a postponement for legitimate reasons, an open session of exams, etc. The solutions to be implemented and their feasibility are left to the faculty’s discretion;
  • Adjustments to teaching activities: justified absences from classes and practical work sessions, seminars, assignment deadlines, exam dates, etc.;
  • Access to the ULB Medical Centre (general and specialized medicine [at minimum out-of-pocket cost], infirmary, sports medicine, sports physical therapy) and PsyCampus;
  • Access to ULB’s sports facilities outside of their regular opening hours;
  • Access to specific off-campus facilities: athletic track, swimming lane, etc.;
  • Participation to national university championships, university games, and inter-university world championships;
  • Access to InfOR-Études;
  • Financial aid: SWO, dedicated SWO funds.

Procedure for obtaining EBS - High-level athlete status

Student entrepreneurs

The following initiatives and resources are offered:

  • In accordance with the General Study Regulations, possibility to apply for a programme reduction, a postponement for legitimate reasons, an open session of exams, etc. The solutions to be implemented and their feasibility are left to the faculty’s discretion;
  • Adjustments to teaching activities: justified absences from classes and practical work sessions, seminars, assignment deadlines, exam dates, etc. The solutions to be implemented and their feasibility are left to the faculty’s discretion;
  • Help with administrative procedures: enrolment, reduction in registration fees, financial aid, etc.;
  • If the entrepreneurial project is supported by the Start.LAB (2 selections per year in February and September. See https://startlab.be:
    • Follow-up and individual support from the Start.LAB throughout the year, based on the needs and requests of the student in order to facilitate his/her integration into the university and to carry out his/her study project.
    • Support and guidance in setting up the company, networking, help with collaborations, etc.
    • Access to the ULB Start-Lab.
  • If the entrepreneurial project is not supported by the Start-Lab: possibility of a six-monthly follow-up of the project's progress by a member of the Solvay Business School faculty
High-level artist students
The following initiatives and resources are offered:
  • Year-long individual support and coaching from ULB Culture, based on the student’s needs and requests, in order to facilitate their integration into the University and succeed in their studies.
  • Help with administrative procedures: enrolment, reduction in registration fees, financial aid, etc.;
  • In accordance with the General Study Regulations, possibility to apply for a programme reduction, a postponement for legitimate reasons, an open session of exams, etc. The solutions to be implemented and their feasibility are left to the faculty’s discretion;
  • Adjustments to teaching activities: justified absences from classes and practical work sessions, seminars, assignment deadlines, exam dates, etc.;
  • Access to ULB’s cultural and artistic facilities outside of their regular opening hours;
  • Access to InfOR-Études;
  • Financial aid: SWO, dedicated SWO funds.
Incarcerated students
Thanks to partnerships with non-profit associations that support prisoners and to the collaboration between prisons and ULB, it is possible to start, continue or resume university studies.  
Learn more
Expectant students, (future) young parents

Le vice-rectorat aux affaires étudiantes et sociales The Vice-Rectorate for Student and Social Affairs via the address ebs.parents@ulb.be is the gateway to individual support for expectant mothers and student parents. Thanks to this status, the faculties can make reasonable arrangements while guaranteeing the quality of their education. This status offers:

  • to help and support students before and after childbirth by offering curriculum arrangements (taking into account various factors such as severe fatigue, possible medical complications, the breastfeeding period);
  • in the event of a GP-mandated leave, to communicate the necessary information to the pregnant or breastfeeding student in the context of internships and/or laboratory practices regarding alternative assessment methods or the possibility of rescheduling, for example;
  • for curricula that require it, to plan with the student or young parent another form of mobility, compatible with her/his status or to discuss a new planning of her/his stay;
  • to ensure, for doctoral students who are most often under a work contract and therefore protected by a legal framework, that the strict application of the latter does not prejudice them in any way;
  • students who are future parents can apply for a place at the ULB crèche or to enrol their children at ULB on Wednesday afternoons and/or during the school holidays (ULB crèche).

The status of Student with Specific Needs (SSN) is granted by a committee of experts based on the student’s profile. Faculties can then implement reasonable accommodations for these students, while ensuring the quality of education provided. Each faculty has contacts for SSNs, who can provide support and guidance.

Other situations

For other situations, please contact the Student Welfare Office.

Information and contacts

Documents

Resources
Updated on July 14, 2022